Power Electronics-dominated Smart Grids
I am Nataly Bañol Arias, and I am an assistant professor in the group Power Electronics & EMC (PE), within the faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science at the University of Twente. My research field is Smart (energy) Grids.
Background
I am an Industrial Engineer with a strong background in electrical engineering focused on mathematical modelling, operations research and distributed energy systems. My research was previously focused on developing optimization techniques applied to power systems (large-scale system), considering the integration of distributed energy resources (DERs), especially electric vehicles (EVs) and their impact on the planning of the expansion and operation of the electrical distribution grid.
Power electronics came to play because they are the backbone of modern electricity grids. They enable the control and integration of DERs – small-scale, power electronics-based devices – into the power system, which is crucial for the functioning of modern societies. Although DERs are interconnected through the physical grid, they are usually designed and modelled as independent systems without taking into account the individual disaggregated or aggregated effect on the operation of the whole energy ecosystem, whereby this is mainly the electrical distribution grid. Moreover, their integration with large-scale systems is often only limited, leading to an inefficient use of resources and a lack of cost-effectiveness. Hereby my interest is in pursuing innovative solutions that lead the pathway towards a more reliable and sustainable society. I am eager to contribute to achieving carbon neutrality through the development of efficient and scalable models for integrated small- and large-scale energy systems, what I envision as “Power Electronics-dominated Smart Grids”.
What is your postion about?
My position is about “bridging” the gap between power systems/smart grids and power electronics! My current knowledge of electrical distribution systems and my experience working with small-scale systems allow me to act as an interface agent to promote and ensure proper integration of power electronic developments within smart grids and energy management systems. As an interface agent, I intend to provide recommendations on how to design, operate, and integrate power electronic-based devices into the grid and how to improve their properties or specifications so that they are useful for the operation of the whole electrical grid.
how does your research create impact for society?
By optimizing interaction and interoperability of power electronics-dominated smart grids, this research leads to a more sustainable, reliable, and cost-effective energy system. This benefits society through reduced carbon emissions, fewer power outages, lower energy bills, and empowered consumers – all crucial for achieving sustainable development goals.
In the years to come
In the future, I hope to bring more knowledge of power and energy systems to the program. My aim is to create a new course, where students understand the “big picture: the impact of a large penetration of power electronics-based devices in the electricity grid and how they benefit each other”. I also aim to develop a lab setup where we can demonstrate the interaction between power systems and power electronics in an easy and fun way! Finally, I aim to improve my teaching skills and I hope to make new students enthusiastic about doing research in smart grids and energy transition!
Collaborations
I have worked and studied in multiple countries across different continents including Colombia, Brazil, and Denmark, these experiences have enabled me to establish valuable collaborations with other research groups abroad. Through my research, I collaborate with industry partners such as ElaadNL, Dutch distribution system operators (DSOs) and other SMEs in the EV charging and energy management ecosystem. I’m also involved in the IEEE Power & Energy Society (PES), and research communities such as 4TU.NIRICT and 4TU.Energy.